Accidentally damaged engine block removing alternator?

WALLY AB

MEMBER
2008 HONDA CIVIC
4 CYL
MANUAL
135,000 MILES

Me and a friend were replacing the alternator on the car listed above and the bottom wouldn't budge. After prying and prying, the bottom wouldn't move. I thought the alternator was unbolted but it was the bolt for the tensioner.

After removing the wrong bolt for the bracket and prying, it took a small chuck out the bottom hole where the bracket mounts.

I bolted the top piece and used JB weld steelstik but the bottom bolt isn't threaded.

After putting everything back together there are no issues, but I'm worried about the tensioner bolted to the bottom bracket breaking the top hole.

Should I fix it or just leave it as it is?

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3 Replies

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,414 POSTS

If you have the piece that broke off, I would suggest a temporary fix of cleaning the area well, then finding a stud long enough to thread into the block through the tensioner, then using a drill bit to remove the threads in the piece that broke off. Now rough up the block and the broken piece. Next use the stud to pull the piece in tight and try to align it as close as possible. Coat the broken piece and block with the JB and let it cure. Now reinstall the tensioner. The long stud into the block will pull the tensioner, the piece and the block together instead of the original bolt. Then with the upper bolt it should hold until you can decide on a different repair.